Euonymus plant named ‘Sunrise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Euonymus fortunei  is provided. The variety forms attractive variegated leaves that are green towards the center and are irregularly bordered with bright golden yellow coloration. Such coloration commonly is retained even if the plants are grown in partial shade. The growth habit is broadly pyramidal. Superior Anthracnose disease resistance is exhibited. The new variety is well suited for growing as a bright ornamental plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Euonymus fortunei plant is believed to be a spontaneous mutationof unknown causation that was discovered while growing among plants ofthe ‘Emerald Charm’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,079) at Oakville,Ontario, Canada. Initially I was primarily attracted to the new varietyby the distinctive coloration of its foliage and the different growthhabit. The new variety subsequently has been studied to confirm itsdistinctive characteristics.

It was found that the new Euonymus fortunei variety of the presentinvention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

(a) Forms a broadly pyramidal growth habit,

(b) Forms variegated leaves that are green and irregularly bordered withbright golden yellow that commonly possess the ability to retain suchcoloration even if grown in partial shade,

(c) Exhibits superior Anthracnose disease resistance, and

(d) Is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation.

The yellow margins of the leaves are considerably brighter than those ofother Euonymus fortunei varieties, including ‘Gold Tips’ (non-patentedin the United States), ‘Canandale Gold’ (non-patented in the UnitedStates), and ‘Sheridan Gold’ (non-patented in the United States). From adistance in the Spring the plant may even be mistaken to be a Forsythiato the casual observer. In addition, the central green coloration of theleaves is considerably darker and provides a greater contrast withbright golden yellow margin coloration. The new variety has proven to beone of the most Anthracnose resistant cultivars that is commerciallyavailable today. Its ability to retain a variegated leaf coloration evenin partial shade is considered to be unusual for a variegated Euonymusfortunei.

The new variety readily can be distinguished from its ‘Emerald Charm’parent. More specifically, the new variety forms leaves having brightgolden yellow borders, exhibits a broad growth habit unlike the uprightcolumnar growth habit of ‘Emerald Charm’, and forms flowers unlike‘Emerald Charm’.

The new variety has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at Oakville,Ontario, Canada, and at West Grove, Pa. The characteristics of the newvariety have been found to be strictly transmissible from one generationto another following such asexual reproduction.

The new variety of the present invention well meets the needs of thehorticultural industry. It can be used to provide attractiveornamentation in the landscape, a specimen plant, foundation planting,ground cover, or be incorporated into mass planting.

The new variety of the present invention has been named ‘Sunrise’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as true as it is reasonably possiblein color illustrations of this nature, plants and plant parts of the newvariety of the present invention. The plants were approximately threeyears of age and were photographed during midsummer while growing in thelandscape at West Grove, Pa.

FIG. 1—shows the typical overall growth habit of the plant wherein thewidth exceeds the height, and

FIG. 2—shows a closer view of the foliage during the summer. The greenleaves are irregularly margined with bright golden yellow.

FIG. 3—shows typical flower buds and flowers. Dimensions in centimetersare included at the bottom of the photograph.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description isbased upon the inspection of plants having an age of approximately threeyears while growing in containers at West Grove, Pa. Such plants hadbeen asexually reproduced by the use of cuttings.

Botanical classification: Euonymus fortunei, cv. ‘Sunrise’.

Parentage: Believed to be a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation ofthe ‘Emerald Charm’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,079).

Propagation: Holds its distinguishing characteristics well throughasexual reproduction by the use of cuttings.

Plant:

Type.—Broadleaf evergreen shrub with petioled and opposite leaves.

Growth habit.—Compact and generally broadly pyramidal. This can becompared to the upright columnar growth habit of the ‘Emerald Charm’variety.

Growth rate.—Generally comparable to that of the ‘Emerald Charm’variety.

Height.—Approximately 2 feet at 5 years and when fully mature.

Width.—Approximately 3 feet at 5 years and approximately 4 feet whenfully mature.

Foliage characteristics:

Configuration.—Slightly variable, mostly obovate with some leavesapproaching an elliptic configuration. The base is rounded and themargins are serrate to serrate—crenate.

Size.—Approximately 3 to 4 cm in length and approximately 2 to 2.5 cm inwidth.

Glossiness.—Semi-glossy.

Color.—Immature Leaves: Yellow is the predominant color. The centralportion is a blend of Green Group 137B, 138B and 138D, and theirregularly defined borders are Yellow-Orange Group 14C with flecks ofGreyed-Yellow Group 160A. Mature Leaves: Shades of green are thepredominant color. The central portion is a blend of Green Group 137A,137C and 138C, and the irregularly defined borders are Yellow-OrangeGroup 14C and 14B.

Petiole.—Approximately 3 to 5 mm in length.

Flowers:

Bearing.—Commonly in clusters of six.

Buds.—Yellow-Green Group 154C in coloration, and approximately 2 mm indiameter.

Petal shape.—Oval.

Petal size.—Approximately 3 mm in length and approximately 2 mm inwidth.

Petal texture.—Generally smooth with the presence of some generallylengthwise grooves.

Petal number.—Four per flower.

Diameter.—Approximately 15 mm.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 154D on the upper surface and Yellow-GreenGroup 154C on the under surface.

Stamen.—Four in number having heights of approximately 2 mm.

Pollen.—None observed to date.

Fruit and seeds.—None observed to date.

Hardiness: Can be grown in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 8.

Disease resistance: Very good with superior resistance to Anthracnosebeing exhibited.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Euonymus fortunei plant thatexhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a) Forms abroadly pyramidal growth habit, (b) Forms variegated leaves that aregreen and irregularly bordered with bright golden yellow that generallypossess the ability to retain such coloration even if grown in partialshade, (c) Exhibits superior Anthracnose disease resistance, and (d) Iswell suited for growing as attractive ornamentation;